On November 19th in the year of 1987,the founding friars purchased a 34 acre parcel of undeveloped, remote, and secluded land in the quiet little town of Bucksport, Maine.  It was not brought to light until recently that we put pen to paper on what was the original feastday of the patron of our order, good St. Elizabeth of Hungary.

Times were tough for the spirit-lead friars. We went through a period of extreme poverty. Keeping a roof over our heads, in a run down camp, deep in the woods of Mariaville, on the shores of Graham Lake proved a challenge of faith as well as determination. Keeping current on payments for our 34 acre parcel in Bucksport proved not just difficult but, down right impossible. We had but one year remaining on our loan with Fleet Bank and yet found ourselves within days of the bank foreclosing on our property. We were about to lose all we had invested in hopes of having a friary planted in Bucksport. Were it not for the kindness of a local parish couple’s assistance, the land would have been seized by the bank and sold from under our feet. We friars are eternally grateful to Marge and Joe who committed to making the last year’s monthly payments, saving us from a great loss.

The Franciscan Brothers of St. Elizabeth of Hungary now own the land free and clear as of 2006. We freely admit to you that we own the property, but it is dedicated to the greater glory of Almighty God through Jesus, His Son. Our goal is to continue to landscape and develop this private parcel into an environment that will lift the mind and heart, of friars and visitors heavenward toward God. Today, initial imaginative ideas, mental concepts and pencil to paper drawings have given way to "concrete" buildings and strategically placed shrines in landscaped areas among vast spans of virgin Maine woodlands and blueberry barrens. Our monastery is now erected and the friars are occupying the premises. Our commercial kitchen provides the friars an environment truly suited to devoting ourselves to baking bread. One local business, Bittersweet Gift Shop, in downtown Bucksport is already making our homemade breads available to Mainers and visiting tourists along the coast. Fear not Bangor folks, the charming Friars’ Bakehouse will also remain an outreach apostolate of the Brothers in downtown Bangor. Our on going, long term, plans include the completion the Friars’ private Memorial Prayer Path which will circumnavigate the 34 acre parcel.